Staten Island Sandy victim gets a boost from Atlas FoundationNew Dorp Beach resident Eddie Saman got a call from the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation after an Advance article detailed his his living situation in a cold, storm-battered home. The much-needed renovations were performed by V&A Home Improvement. Teddy Atlas says more homes in affected areas will receive help.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After reading a story in the Advance about the plight of New Dorp Beach resident Eddie Saman, who is trying to rebuild his Hurricane Sandy-damaged home in the frigid temperatures, the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation has stepped in to help repair the structure’s roof.

“It’s amazing. I thank God that America is great, and the Ted Atlas Foundation is [the] greatest,” Saman said. “That is the main job that has to be done because I couldn’t do anything until I got the roof.”

Since then, Saman’s 21-year-old son -- a College of Staten Island student -- could not remain with his father in the cold, gutted home and has been staying with friends.

“This is like a gift from God; I didn’t expect it,” Saman said. “I was living like an animal in there, like I was homeless.”

And unlike many bureaucratic processes that take forever before results are achieved, Saman will have his roof completed by Friday, said foundation founder Teddy Atlas.

“That’s one of the things we take pride in with the foundation, is that we find out about a problem or somebody that needs serious help, and we act on it quickly,” Atlas said. “They don’t have to sit around and wait, and they don’t have to go through paper work that’s not necessary. If they come to us, they already went through that.”

The Advance published Saman’s story last Wednesday on the front page. A foundation board member went to his home Thursday, the decision was made that day to help and V and R Home Improvements began working Tuesday.

The contractor is replacing the entire roof and rafters, which is far more than Saman had planned since he could only repair the holes on his own.

With the flood, the fire and the cold temperatures it would seem as though nothing good could come from any of this for Saman, but in his resilient, upbeat manor, he was able to find a positive streak.

“He said to me ‘The good is that I met your foundation; I met people that show me how much they care about other people,’” Atlas recalled Saman telling him. “It speaks to him and what a good man he is, that through all this, he’s not angry, he’s not discouraged, he’s not beaten down.”

The roof wasn’t even on his home yet, and Saman was already asking Atlas how he can help the foundation in the future.

“How could I pay back?” Saman asked. “At least I could do something, either physically, financially anything I can do for this foundation. This is the best from them. I really appreciate what they have done for me.” ---Follow @siadvance on Twitter

“Without the help we can’t do these things,” Atlas said. “And that’s what I want people to know, this is their care, their love, their donations going to work.”

Donations to the foundation can be made through its website, dratlasfoundation.com, by sending a check to the offices at 543 Cary Ave. or by calling 718-980-7037.